NEW YORK – October has officially arrived in the Bronx.
With a brisk wind and a temperature of 50 degrees, Yankee Stadium is set for Game 1 of the AL Championship Series, marking yet another playoff clash between the Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians, the fourth such meeting since 2017.
Tonight, Yankees’ left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon will take on a Cleveland lineup that includes switch-hitting veteran Jose Ramirez, whom Yankees manager Aaron Boone describes as “the complete package.” Boone expressed his frustration with commentary about Ramirez being underappreciated, insisting he is on a “Hall of Fame” trajectory.
CC Sabathia threw the ceremonial first pitch as the series begins in this best-of-seven matchup for the AL pennant.
Rodon’s Dominant Start
Carlos Rodon is having a remarkable outing, wrapping up four scoreless innings, each concluded with a swinging strikeout, including a key strikeout against Josh Naylor, notorious for his ‘rock-the-baby’ home run gesture against Gerrit Cole in the 2022 ALDS. Rodon has recorded an impressive seven strikeouts while facing just 14 batters, and the Yankees lead 3-0.
Wild Moments in the Bronx
Yankees’ lefty reliever Joey Castillo struggled during his outing, allowing another inherited runner to score on a two-out wild pitch, increasing the Yankees’ lead to 3-0 as Giancarlo Stanton crossed home plate before Alex Verdugo struck out to end the third inning.
Cleveland’s Struggles Continue
Cleveland’s starting pitcher Alex Cobb was unable to complete the third inning, exiting with the bases loaded and two outs as Joey Cantillo was brought in to face Anthony Rizzo. Cantillo quickly let a wild pitch go by, allowing Aaron Judge to score from third, extending the Yankees’ lead to 2-0 before walking Rizzo with four straight balls.
Juan Soto’s Impact
Juan Soto continues to bolster his free-agent value, starting the Yankees’ third inning with a home run to right-center, putting the Yankees ahead 1-0 off of Alex Cobb. Cobb followed this by walking Aaron Judge, after which an athletic trainer visited him on the mound. Cobb has been dealing with a cracked nail and blister issues.
Rizzo’s Comeback
First baseman Anthony Rizzo, returning from fractured fingers sustained on September 28, made his presence known with a line drive single in the second inning. However, the Yankees failed to capitalize, stranding runners at the corners with only two outs.
Missed Opportunities
Despite having the first two batters reach safely against Alex Cobb in the second inning, the Yankees couldn’t bring them home. This missed opportunity marked the fourth time this postseason that the Yankees have placed their first two runners on base without capitalizing, having scored only once in those situations.
Rodon’s Effective Performance
Carlos Rodon aimed to replicate Gerrit Cole’s focus from the previous Division Series, and thus far, he has been successful. After stranding a runner at second to finish a scoreless first inning, Rodon maintained his composure on the mound, striking out Lane Thomas without letting his emotions show, allowing the roaring crowd to celebrate instead.
Rizzo Returns to Action
Just over two weeks after fracturing his fingers, Anthony Rizzo has rejoined the Yankees’ lineup for the AL Championship Series. Rizzo noted that pain management is crucial, but he feels confident that the energy from the 50,000 fans in attendance will help him overcome any discomfort during Game 1 against the Guardians.
Yankees’ ALCS Game 1 Lineup
The Yankees’ lineup includes Anthony Rizzo at first base against Cleveland’s right-hander Alex Cobb, along with notable players such as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge as they aim for a strong start in this championship series.
Cleveland Guardians’ starting lineup features players like Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, with Alex Cobb taking the mound as the starting pitcher.